Violent Protests Erupt Across Tanzania as President Samia Suluhu Hassan Declared Landslide Winner
Tanzania's electoral commission has announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won the country's disputed election with an astonishing 97% of the vote, amidst violent protests and widespread human rights abuses.
The landslide victory marks a significant turning point for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which had been facing increased opposition from charismatic figures who sought to bring about political change. However, Hassan's decisive win has left many questioning the integrity of the electoral process, particularly given the exclusion of her two biggest challengers from the race.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have long expressed concerns over Tanzania's human rights record, citing enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings in the run-up to the polls. The United Nations has also sounded the alarm, reporting over 200 cases of enforced disappearance since 2019.
As the country struggles to come to terms with the outcome of the election, protests have erupted across the nation, with demonstrators tearing down Hassan's campaign banners and setting fire to government buildings. Police have responded with force, firing teargas and gunshots at protesters, leaving dozens dead or injured.
The opposition party, Chadema, has reported hundreds of deaths during the protests, a figure that the government has dismissed as "hugely exaggerated". Meanwhile, the UN human rights office says it has received credible reports of at least 10 people killed in three cities.
Hassan's five-year term is expected to be marked by significant changes for the country, with many hoping she will prioritize reform and address long-standing grievances. However, given the circumstances surrounding her victory, it remains to be seen whether she can genuinely deliver on these promises without further suppressing dissent.
Tanzania's electoral commission has announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won the country's disputed election with an astonishing 97% of the vote, amidst violent protests and widespread human rights abuses.
The landslide victory marks a significant turning point for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which had been facing increased opposition from charismatic figures who sought to bring about political change. However, Hassan's decisive win has left many questioning the integrity of the electoral process, particularly given the exclusion of her two biggest challengers from the race.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have long expressed concerns over Tanzania's human rights record, citing enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings in the run-up to the polls. The United Nations has also sounded the alarm, reporting over 200 cases of enforced disappearance since 2019.
As the country struggles to come to terms with the outcome of the election, protests have erupted across the nation, with demonstrators tearing down Hassan's campaign banners and setting fire to government buildings. Police have responded with force, firing teargas and gunshots at protesters, leaving dozens dead or injured.
The opposition party, Chadema, has reported hundreds of deaths during the protests, a figure that the government has dismissed as "hugely exaggerated". Meanwhile, the UN human rights office says it has received credible reports of at least 10 people killed in three cities.
Hassan's five-year term is expected to be marked by significant changes for the country, with many hoping she will prioritize reform and address long-standing grievances. However, given the circumstances surrounding her victory, it remains to be seen whether she can genuinely deliver on these promises without further suppressing dissent.